New Christmas Titles in Adult Fiction

A Merry Little Meet Cute is by Julie Murphy. "Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction. Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhile when she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom. But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee. And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor." (from Amazon.com)

"From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes a witty and heartfelt story of two friends who unexpectedly find the person-and the place in which-they belong this Christmas. With twinkling humor and heartfelt Christmas spirit, two friends find love in a town called Wishing Tree…Until Camryn Neff can return to her “real” life in Chicago, she’s in Wishing Tree to care for her twin sisters. She’s not looking for forever love, not here. But handsome hotelier Jake Crane is a temptation she can’t resist, so she suggests they pair up for the season. No golden rings, no broken hearts. At his side, she sees her hometown through Christmas-colored eyes. The cheer is cheerier, the joy more joyful. She thought she had put her future on hold…but maybe her real life was here all along, waiting for her to come home. New in town, River Best is charmed by Wishing Tree’s homespun traditions and warmhearted people. When she’s crowned Snow Queen, she’s honored but wary. Dylan Tucker, her king, seems like the stuff of sugarplum dreams, but she can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something big. As they perform their “royal” duties—tasting cookies, lighting trees—Dylan’s good humor and melty kisses draw her to the brink of love. But she can’t let herself fall until she uncovers his secret, even if her lack of faith means losing him forever." (from Amazon.com)

"In The Christmas Spirit, Debbie Macomber celebrates the true meaning of the holidays and the inclusive community spirit that binds us all. Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends, but their lives couldn’t be more different. Peter, the local pastor who is dedicated to his community, spending time visiting the flock, attending meetings, and, with the holiday season approaching, preparing for the Christmas service and live nativity. As a bartender, Hank serves a much different customer base at his family-owned tavern, including a handful of lonely regulars and the local biker gang. When Peter scoffs that Hank has it easy compared to him, the two decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. To their surprise, the responsibilities of a bartender and a pastor are similar, but taking on the other’s work is more difficult than either Peter or Hank expected. As the two begin to see each other in a new light—and each discovers a new love to cherish—their lives are forever changed." (from Amazon.com)

"Return to Hope’s Crossing this Christmas in New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s latest heartwarming story of matchmaking at the holidays--All Is Bright! Sage McKnight is an ambitious young architect working at her father’s firm who takes on her most challenging client in Mason Tucker. The former pro baseball player is still healing from the physical and emotional scars after a plane crash left him a wheelchair-using single dad, and he’s determined not to let anyone breach his emotional defenses. Sage knows her work on Mason’s new home in Hope’s Crossing is her best work yet, and she won’t let her grumpy client prevent her from showcasing her work personally. With Sage’s gift for taking broken things and making them better, the matchmaking talent of the quirky locals and a generous sprinkling of Christmas cheer, Mason doesn’t stand a chance against the power of this magical holiday season." (from Amazon.com)

Merry Christmas Reads

The latest from Debbie Macomber is called Holiday Lights and includes the following stories:

THE FORGETFUL BRIDE Caitlin Marshall is stuck spending the holidays with Joe Rockwell. Her childhood friend is still a terrible tease, claiming that he and Cait are married. Oh, sure, they had a pretend ceremony when she was eight—but now it would seem that Joe wants to make their relationship into something real.

SUGAR AND SPICE Librarian Jayne Gilbert needs a man she can bring to her high school reunion. So, naturally, Jayne turns to a book: How to Pick Up a Man. And it works, even if she attracts the attention of good-looking Riley Chambers only because she’s carrying that book, not because she followed its advice!

FRIENDS—AND THEN SOME Lily Morrissey decides it’s time to find a husband, preferably one who can look after her. It’s a strictly practical decision, so she enlists the help of her best friend, Jake Carson, in the Great Husband Search. But then Lily’s feelings for Jake start to change… Could they become more than friends?

Best in Snow: An Andy Carpenter Mystery is by David Rosenfelt. In this Christmas mystery, lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are on the beat after a body turns up in the snow and a journalist is the prime suspect. Christmas has come early to the town of Paterson, New Jersey, in the form of a snowstorm that dumps two feet of snow on the ground. Lawyer Andy Carpenter likes snow – white Christmas and all that – but it can cause problems for the walks he takes his dogs on every day. When Andy’s golden retriever, Tara, goes to play in the snow and instead discovers a body, Andy ends up on the phone with the local newspaper editor. The murder victim is Mayor Alex Oliva, who had an infamous relationship with the newspaper. Last year a young reporter published an expose, and Oliva had him fired for libel. Now, the young reporter – and prime suspect – is in need of a lawyer. Andy agrees to take the case, though it’s not looking good this holiday season.

The Wish is Nicholas Sparks' latest. 1996 was the year that changed everything for Maggie Dawes. Sent away at sixteen to live with an aunt she barely knew in Ocracoke, a remote village on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, she could think only of the friends and family she left behind . . . until she met Bryce Trickett, one of the few teenagers on the island. Handsome, genuine, and newly admitted to West Point, Bryce showed her how much there was to love about the wind-swept beach town—and introduced her to photography, a passion that would define the rest of her life. By 2019, Maggie is a renowned travel photographer. She splits her time between running a successful gallery in New York and photographing remote locations around the world. But this year she is unexpectedly grounded over Christmas, struggling to come to terms with a sobering medical diagnosis. Increasingly dependent on a young assistant, she finds herself becoming close to him. As they count down the last days of the season together, she begins to tell him the story of another Christmas, decades earlier—and the love that set her on a course she never could have imagined.

RaeAnne Thayne's latest is called Sleigh Bells Ring. Angel’s View Ranch has always been special to Annelise McCade. Once upon a time, it was her family’s land, until her grandfather sold it to billionaire Wallace Sheridan. Now employed as the live-in caretaker, Annie is just trying to make it through the holidays with both her sanity and her niece's and nephew’s faith in the magic of Christmas intact. The six-year-old twins recently lost their mother, so Annie tells herself it wouldn’t be a problem to bring them to Angel’s View. Why should it be? The Sheridans haven’t visited in years, not since Wallace died. They would never know the twins were there…until Tate Sheridan shows up out of the blue two weeks before Christmas. Crushed to learn that Tate is there to sell his grandfather’s property—and mortified that her secret guests have been discovered—Annie offers her resignation. But Tate asks them to stay and help him get the house ready for one last family Christmas before it’s put on the market. Annie and Tate have three days to work their magic before the Sheridan clan arrives—and to work through the growing attraction between them. But Annie simply can’t fall for the man who will put her out of a job and a home. Still, the sparkle of the season is impossible to deny…and this Christmas has surprises in store for everyone.

(All synopses from Amazon.com)

New Christmas Audio Books

 

From the best-selling author Lynn Austen comes The Wish Book Christmas--a nostalgic and endearing holiday story that reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect and don’t deserve. Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are looking forward to celebrating Christmas in postwar America, thrilled at the prospect of starting new traditions with their five-year-old sons. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys start obsessing over every toy in it, Audrey and Eve realize they must first teach them the true significance of the holiday. They begin by helping Bobby and Harry plan gifts of encouragement and service for those in their community, starting by walking an elderly neighbor’s yellow Lab - since a dog topped the boys’ wish list for Santa. In the charming tale that follows, Audrey and Eve are surprised to find their own hearts healing from the tragedies of war and opening to the possibility of forgiveness and new love. (from Amazon.com)

Beloved award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Mary Monroe delivers a hopeful and heartwarming story--Once in a Lifetime--about an impossible Christmas dream, an unexpected act of goodwill - and a surprising chain of events that could gift joy far beyond the holiday season. Free-spirited, living on the fly, Vanessa Hayes is still always down for traditional family holiday fun - until now. She’s making her oft-delayed wish finally come true: Christmas in Paris, the glittering City of Lights. But when her passport gets delayed, it’s too late for Vanessa to rebook. Now it looks like the Yuletide she longs for won’t happen. Until a stranger suddenly enters her life, and changes it forever. Overwhelmed by responsibility, Judith Guthrie is too busy worrying about her seriously ill brother to have time to celebrate. She’s taken a leave from her teaching job to care for him as he’s on the waiting list for a life-giving transplant. A trip to France is a kind of happiness she can’t imagine. But when she accidentally receives Vanessa’s passport, Judith can’t resist delivering it in person so Vanessa will at least have her holiday dream. She can’t anticipate that her small gesture will result in a series of big choices, big miracles, and lifelong rewards that all will be thankful for over many Christmases to come. (from Amazon.com)

Three charming and festive holiday novellas spiced with humor, frontier action, and sweet romance. In this three-in-one novella collection, best-selling author Karen Witemeyer presents the new story A Texas Christmas Carol, in which a town's wealthy Scrooge-like bachelor finds his world invaded by a woman set on earning his donation for helping the local poor, and by the penetrating questions of three mysterious visitors. It also includes, for the first time in audio, An Archer Family Christmas. When the Archer clan gathers for the Christmas holiday, an unexpected request for help leaves Cassandra Archer directly in the path of a dangerous outlaw. Desperate to protect the woman he loves, Jim Archer races to the rescue, only to find that Cassie's life is not the only one in peril. It will take a Christmas miracle - and the entire Archer clan - to keep a second Archer Christmas from ending in disaster. In previously published Gift of the Heart, a widow and her young daughter move to Hope Springs for a fresh start. But with no money to secure a home, Ruth must convince a wealthy resort owner to accept her heirloom brooch as collateral. Will the pin that brought love to three generations soften the heart of a wounded recluse and give Ruth a second chance at love as the holidays draw near? Sprinkled throughout the collection, you'll find a hope-filled Christmas devotion, Witemeyer holiday recipes, and fun facts about 19th-century Christmas celebrations! (from Amazon.com)

New Adult Christmas Fiction

 

A Cup of Holiday Fear is a Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander. It’s Christmastime in Ashland, Oregon and the halls are decked, stockings hung, and eyes are all aglow—thanks to a bit of buttered rum. Jules Capshaw and her staff at Torte bakery are busy, busy, busy. Even the town’s most in-demand baker needs a break, though, so Jules invites everyone to celebrate at the Winchester Inn’s Dickens Feast—a six course spectacular complete with Yorkshire Pudding, Christmas goose, and all the trimmings. The weather outside turns frightful and one of the guests turns up deader than a doornail. Jules and her helpers take it upon themselves to search for clues and track down suspects. Who’s naughty? Who’s nice? And who’s a murderer? 

A Merry Murder is a new Pennyfoot Holiday Mystery by Kate Kingsbury. The Pennyfoot halls are all decked out for a spectacular Christmas celebration. There are actual boughs of holly, a magnificent decorated tree in the lobby, and the hotel’s guest list is finally looking healthy. The Pennyfoot’s owner, Cecily Sinclair Baxter is loving the holiday spirit until a tragedy strikes and threatens to ruin another Yuletide. Her chief housemaid Gertie has found a man’s body in the laundry room. He has a woman’s scarf wrapped around his neck and a note in his pocket from the hotel’s newest maid. Cecily gets to work tracking down the culprit, but she is thwarted at every turn with suspects lying about crucial clues. This is one slippery murderer and Cecily is on a timetable. She refuses to let another tragedy ruin the holiday festivities and Pennyfoot’s reputation. 

Christmas in Vermont is a novel by Anita Hughes. Emma can’t believe her luck when she finds an open jewelry store in Manhattan two days before Christmas. She is there to sell a bracelet her ex-boyfriend gave her when a familiar watch catches her eye. It’s the same engraved watch she gave her college sweetheart, Fletcher, years ago. She decides to trade the bracelet for the watch and the synchronicity of it all crosses her mind. Emma shrugs it off as a coincidence, but her best friend, Bronwyn, believes it is divine destiny. Fletcher is the one who got away and Emma never really got over it. Bronwyn does some digging and finds out that Fletcher is spending Christmas in a romantic inn in snowy Vermont, she gives destiny a push and signs Emma up to help the innkeeper as the children’s activity coordinator. Emma can’t help but feel that a week with quaint shops and maple syrup might do her some good. That is until she sees Fletcher with his daughter and his fiancée. Suddenly, Emma’s idea of a fairy tale seems doomed to fail—much like the innkeeper’s cashflow. It’s going to take a Christmas miracle to save Emma’s heart and the inn. 

Large Print Christmas Fiction

Here Comes Santa Paws is a Melanie Travis Mystery by Laurien Berenson. "It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Connecticut, but Melanie Travis finds surviving this December may take a real Christmas miracle when a yuletide murderer comes to town . . . As Melanie attempts to deck the halls in a house overrun by pampered Poodles, her event planner friend, Claire, is busy playing Santa—beard and belly not included—for the wealthiest clientele on Connecticut’s Gold Coast. A personal shopper gig in the affluent town of New Canaan seems like business as usual. Except Claire’s stylish stint comes at a higher price than she bargains for when she stumbles over her newest customer’s dead body on the job. Named a prime suspect for murder, she begs for Melanie’s help, then vanishes like cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. Determined to track down Claire, Melanie and her nosy Aunt Peg dash into a dizzying investigation that leads to even more questions. Why was homicide victim Lila Moran, a secretive woman with an untraceable past, permitted to live on a well-known socialite-turned-recluse’s private estate, and is Claire keeping her own incriminating secrets under wraps? Now, with a grinchy New Canaan detective on their case and disturbing clues piling up like presents beneath the tree, the crime-solving duo must rein in a sinister Kris Kringle before they’re the next ones on someone’s deadly wish list." (from Amazon.com)

You get three stories of faith, family, and love in An Amish Second Christmas. "For the Amish, the day after Christmas is for family, feasting, and exchanging simple gifts. And for three different couples, it will bring another precious chance for love.

THEIR SECOND CHANCE by Shelley Shepard Gray
Amish nanny Hannah Eicher never thought she’d ever see Rob Prince again. There was no way a relationship between her and the handsome English fireman could overcome her family’s objections—and their personal differences. But when he saves her from a sudden blaze, Hannah longs to see if they can turn holiday hope into a lifetime of happiness.

HIS AMISH ANGEL by Patricia Johns
She’s too outspoken to be a proper Amish wife. So as advice columnist “Miss Amish,” Maggie Lapp helps Amish and English with their romantic problems. But when her tradition-minded former fiancé accidentally reveals her secret, Maggie will need more than a miracle to make things right—and find a perfect love for all the Christmases to come.

AN HEIRLOOM CHRISTMAS by Virginia Wise
Rachel Miller won't let her disability keep her from selling heirloom plants and proving she can be independent. She certainly doesn't need reckless Joseph Webber working at her greenhouse to pay off a disastrous Rumspringa stunt. But she and Joseph have more in common than they think—and their surprising holiday partnership might just blossom into forever joy." (from Amazon.com)

"#1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella returns with a festive new Shopaholic adventure filled with holiday cheer and unexpected gifts. 'Tis the season for change and Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is embracing it, returning from the States to live in the charming village of Letherby and working with her best friend, Suze, in the gift shop of Suze's stately home. Life is good, especially now that Becky takes time every day for mindfulness . . . which actually means listening to a meditation tape while hunting down online bargains. But Becky still adores the traditions of Christmas: Her parents host, carols play on repeat, her mother pretends she made the Christmas pudding, and the neighbors come 'round for sherry in their terrible holiday sweaters. Things are looking cheerier than ever, until Becky's parents announce they're moving to ultra-trendy Shoreditch--unable to resist the draw of craft beer and smashed avocados--and ask Becky if she'll host this year. What could possibly go wrong? Her sister demands a vegan turkey, her husband insists that he just wants aftershave--again, and little Minnie demands a very specific picnic hamper: Surely Becky can manage all this, as well as the surprise appearance of an old-boyfriend-turned-rock-star and his pushy new girlfriend, whose motives are far from clear. But as the countdown to Christmas begins and her big-hearted plans take an unexpected turn toward disaster, Becky starts to wonder if chaos will ensue, or if she'll manage to bring comfort and joy to Christmas after all." (from Amazon.com)

"Gathered in one volume for the very first time, here are three yuletide tales of mystery, murder, and romance, featuring your favorite sleuths . . .Includes Luscious Holiday Recipes!

THE TWELVE DESSERTS OF CHRISTMAS by JOANNE FLUKE
It’s the perfect mix of naughty and nice when two lovestruck boarding school teachers watch six kids over Christmas break. But when someone wants the cozy couple’s romance to burn out faster than a scorched fruitcake, it’s Hannah Swensen to the rescue, armed with her sleuthing
skills—and twelve deliciously festive recipes.

NIGHTMARE ON ELF STREET by LAURA LEVINE
Aside from the mortifying costume, how bad can a gig as a mall Santa’s elf be? Jaine Austen finds out when she’s teamed up with the Santa from Hell. But things go from bad to worse when he’s found murdered on the job—and Jaine is a suspect. Now all she wants for Christmas is to find the real killer.

THE CHRISTMAS THIEF by LESLIE MEIER
Elizabeth Stone is ready for a white Christmas in Tinker’s Cove, Maine—until a fancy Yule ball at the Florida hotel where she works dumps snow on her plans. The sponsor’s jewels have gone missing and the police are asking about her ties to a cute mystery guest. Good thing Elizabeth’s mother, Lucy Stone, flew down to surprise her. ʼTis the season for a little investigating." (from Amazon.com)

More Christmas Reads

Debbie Macomber takes her readers to Alaska in Alaskan Holiday. "Before beginning her dream job as sous chef in one of Seattle’s hottest new restaurants, Josie Avery takes a summer position cooking at a lakeside lodge in the remote Alaskan town of Ponder. Josie falls for the rustic charms of the local community—including Jack Corcoran, the crotchety keeper of Ponder’s famed sourdough starter, and, in particular, the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a famed master swordsmith. Josie and Palmer become close during the long Alaskan summer days, but Josie knows that, come fall, she’ll be returning to reality and the career she’s worked so hard for. Palmer, on the other hand, would like nothing better than to make Josie his wife and to keep her in Ponder. But Josie can’t imagine abandoning her mother back in the Emerald City and sacrificing her career to stay in this isolated town—not even for a man she’s quickly coming to love. Fate has other plans. Josie misses the last boat out of town before winter sets in, stranding her in Ponder and putting her dream job at risk. As the holidays approach, Josie and Palmer must grapple with the complications that arise when dreams confront reality, and the Christmas magic that can happen when they put their faith in love." (Amazon.com)

Author Melody Carlson takes us seaside in A Christmas By the Sea. "When Wendy Harper inherits her family's beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in--temporarily, she reminds him--in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist." (Amazon.com)

The snowy Highlands of Scotland are where author Sarah Morgan sets her novel, The Christmas Sisters. "Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can’t wait to see them. Workaholic Hannah knows she can’t avoid spending the holidays with her family two years in a row. But it’s not the weight of their expectations that’s panicking her—it’s the life-changing secret she’s hiding. Stay-at-home mom Beth is having a personal crisis. All she wants for Christmas is time to decide if she’s ready to return to work—seeing everyone was supposed to help her stress levels, not increase them! Posy isn’t sure she’s living her best life, but with her parents depending on her, making a change seems risky. But not as risky as falling for gorgeous new neighbor Luke. As Suzanne’s dreams of the perfect McBride Christmas unravel, she must rely on the magic of the season to bring her daughters together. But will this new togetherness teach the sisters that their close-knit bond is strong enough to withstand anything—including a family Christmas?" (Amazon.com)

Jenny Colgan sets her novel Christmas on the Island on the remote Scottish island of Mure.
"It's a time for getting cozy in front of whisky barrel wood fires, and enjoying a dram and a treacle pudding with the people you love—unless, of course, you've accidentally gotten pregnant by your ex-boss, and don't know how to tell him. In the season for peace and good cheer, will Flora find the nerve to reveal the truth to her nearest and dearest? Will her erstwhile co-parent Joel think she’s the bearer of glad tidings—or is this Christmas going to be as bleak as the Highlands in midwinter?
Meanwhile Saif, a doctor and refugee from war-torn Syria is trying to enjoy his first western Christmas with his sons on this remote island where he’s been granted asylum. His wife, however, is still missing, and her absence hangs over what should be a joyful celebration. Can the family possibly find comfort and joy without her? Travel to the beautiful northern edge of the world and join the welcoming community of Mure for a Highland Christmas you'll never forget! And warm up your kitchen with bonus recipes for the Little Beach Street Bakery’s seasonal shortbread, Lanark Blue Scones, and Black Buns." (Amazon.com)

Want a little more steam in your Christmas reads? Why not try Kiss Me At Christmas: A Playful Brides book by Valerie Bowman? "Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf abhors Christmas. Carol singing and holiday cheer only remind him of a dark time. When a close friend calls on him for help, Daffin is happy to capitalize on the distraction. But when he learns the lovely Lady Regina is the one in danger, he’s to become bodyguard to the captivating woman. Regina has one mission: to find a night of passion in the arms of a gentleman. Considered firmly on the shelf, Regina has given up on marriage―but that doesn’t mean she wants to be denied the pleasure married ladies experience. Daffin has long captured her attention…and when a threat calls him to her side, the sparks between them ignite. But how can a hired bodyguard find his way into Regina’s noble heart?" (Amazon.com)

Cozy Christmas Mysteries

In A Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke, Hannah Swenson recalls a Christmas many years ago. "With her dream of opening The Cookie Jar taking shape, Hannah’s life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle in Lake Eden—especially when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball from the past in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes for the merry festivities, she instantly becomes enthralled by Essie’s old notebooks and the tale of a woman escaping danger on the streets of New York. Hannah’s surprised by Essie’s secret talent for penning crime fiction. She’s even more surprised when the story turns real. As Hannah prepares to run a bakery and move out of her mother’s house, it’ll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake." (from Amazon.com)

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is a cozy mystery by Leslie Budewitz. "Erin is one smart cookie, but can she keep the holiday spirit―and herself―alive till Christmas? In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy's Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily has turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin. When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he's been robbed, fingers point to Merrily―until she's found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer―and keep herself in one piece―in time for a special Christmas Eve? Includes delicious recipes!" (from Amazon.com)

Christmas comes to Zinnia, Mississippi―Sarah Booth Delaney must solve a case as the holiday approaches, in A Gift of Bones from Carolyn Haines. "Christmas is just around the corner and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are preparing for a festive holiday season. After a turbulent season of solving cases, they’re ready for some holiday cheer. Sarah Booth and Sheriff Coleman Peters have finally gotten together, and this is the first holiday they’re celebrating as a couple. Sarah Booth busies herself with decking the halls and daydreaming about romantic Christmas nights with Coleman. Then her friend Cece Dee Falcon shows up needing Sarah Booth’s help―right now. She shows Sarah Booth a box that was delivered by courier and left at Cece’s front porch. It contains a lock of hair, a photograph of a pretty young woman, very pregnant, and a note demanding ransom for the return of the teen. Cece reveals that this is her cousin’s daughter, Eve Falcon, and that she’d lost touch with this part of her family years ago. Eve and Cece had been close, until the family had a terrible falling out, and banished Cece from their lives. The countdown begins as the kidnapper pushes for payment―or else, he threatens, Eve will meet her maker. It’s up to Sarah Booth and her friends to find the girl before something terrible happens on what should be the merriest day of the year." (from Amazon.com)

Anne Perry delights with her Victorian Christmas mystery, A Christmas Revelation. "Formerly a river urchin living on the banks of the Thames, nine-year-old Worm has never experienced a family Christmas. But thanks to a job at Hester Monk’s clinic in Portpool Lane, he’s found a makeshift family in kindly volunteer Miss Claudine Burroughs and curmudgeonly old bookkeeper Squeaky Robinson. When Worm witnesses the abduction of a beautiful woman by a pair of ruffians just days before Christmas, he frantically turns to Squeaky for help. A one-time brothel owner, Squeaky knows the perils of interfering in nasty business, but he can’t bear to disappoint Worm—or leave the boy to attempt a rescue on his own. What neither of the would-be saviors expects, however, is that the damsel in distress already has her dilemma well in hand . . . and is taking steps to bring her captors to justice for crimes far worse than kidnapping. But the rogues, as cunning as they are deadly, are not to be underestimated. The aid of cynical old Squeaky and hopeful young Worm just might make the difference between a merry triumph over evil and a terrible yuletide tragedy." (from Amazon.com)

Finally, one of my favorite cozy series has a new title--Six Cats a Slayin' (A Cat in the Stacks Mystery) by Miranda James. "December twenty-fifth is right around the corner, and Charlie is making his list and checking it twice. He is doing his best to show some peace and goodwill toward his nosy neighbor Gerry Arbitron, a real estate agent who seems to have designs on his house (and maybe on him, as well), while preparing for a very important role, indeed--his first Christmas as a grandfather.
The last thing Charlie expects is to gain several new additions to his family. Charlie finds a box on his doorstep with five kittens inside and a note begging him to keep them safe. With Diesel's help, Charlie welcomes the tiny felines into the Harris household just as Gerry decides it is time to throw a lavish holiday party. Determined to make her mark on Athena, Gerry instead winds up dead at her very own party. Though attempts to dig into her past come up empty, Charlie and his girlfriend, Helen Louise, witness two heated exchanges involving Gerry before her death: one with a leading citizen and another with the wife of a good friend. Will one of these ladies wind up on the sheriff's naughty list? Charlie and Diesel have to wrap up the case before the special season is ruined by a sinister scrooge." (from Amazon.com)

Cozy Christmas Mysteries

Wagging Through the Snow is a Melanie Travis Canine Mystery by Laurien Berenson. Melanie Travis is juggling her demanding teaching job at Connecticut's prestigious Howard Academy, her five poodles scampering around the house, and the demands of the Christmas holidays. When her brother and her ex-husband announce their plans to expand their successful country cafe by buying a dilapidated pine tree farm, she has even more on her plate. The ten-acre plot had, at one time, been a popular seasonal destination, but when the previous owner died, it fell into disrepair and will require more than a little tidying up. When a squatter is found dead on the land, it is assumed that he met his end when a fir limb fell on his head. Melanie and Aunt Peg aren't convinced that is what happened, however, and they go digging into Pete the squatter's history. What they find is a terrible habit that cost him everything and probably got him killed.

A Cajun Christmas Killing is a Cajun Country Mystery by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat is back home in Pelican, Louisiana and looking forward to the Christmastime traditions of bonfires on the levee, zydeco carols and pots of gumbo, but a dark cloud descends over the Crozat Plantation B & B. Travel websites are being flooded with vicious reviews of the B&B and Maggie thinks she has identified the culprit as rival businessman Donald Baxter. Well, that is, until he is found stabbed to death at Maggie's workplace and she and her loved ones become prime suspects. Maggie and the rest of the Crozat clan are able to establish alibis, but her boyfriend, Detective Bo Durand, remains a person of interest. With Bo sidelined in the investigation, Maggie finds herself making an unlikely alliance with family rival Rufus Durand. Maggie and Rufus are hot on the trail of the killer, but their meddling hasn't gone unnoticed. Will it be "Joyeux Noel" or "Bon Nuit" for Maggie?

Murder on the Toy Town Express is a Vintage Toyshop Mystery by Barbara Early. Liz McCall has come to love running her father's vintage toyshop in East Aurora, NY, so she is excited when the train and toy show comes to town. Craig McFadden has set up his booth right next to Liz's. The only problem is that Craig was Liz's childhood bully and he's now her business rival. When Craig falls from the ceiling in a publicity stunt gone wrong, everyone believes it's a horrible accident. The evidence, however, points to something much more sinister and the brother of Liz's high school sweetheart, Jack, becomes a prime suspect. Pulled into the case by her feelings for both Jack and the police chief, Ken, Liz dives in headfirst only to find that the actual target may have been her father.

How the Finch Stole Christmas is a Meg Langslow Christmas Mystery by Donna Andrews. At home in Caerphilly, Meg's husband has decided to expand his one-man show of Dickens's A Christmas Carol into a full scale production with a larger cast, Meg as stage manager, and their sons Jamie and Josh playing Tiny Tim and young Scrooge. When the famous--and obviously over-the-hill--actor hired to headline the play comes to town, he brings with him a sleigh full of baggage and more enemies than you can shake your jingle bells at. On top of all this, Caerphilly seems to be overrun with more than its share of beautiful caged finches. What is up with that? Meg and company are in for one interesting holiday.

Twelve Days until Christmas!

Need a little break from all of the "Holly Jolly" bustle while still keeping with the season?  Why not try one of these Christmas themed mysteries or suspenses?

Indigo Christmas by Jeanne M. Dams

Just before Christmas, when the husband of her sole remaining friend is accused of theft, arson, and murder, Hilda Johansson has to find new ways of investigating a crime that seems to make no sense.

Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop editted by Otto Penzler

Every year since 1993, Penzler, founder of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York, has asked a different genre writer to produce a short story to be published and given away as a Christmas gift to customers. The only requirements: the story must be set around the Christmas season, and it must involve the bookshop in its action.

Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Margaret Fenwick, president of the Mistletoe Historical Society, is murdered on the property right after a very public argument with Holly's father.  But Holly knows her father, and is determined to exonerate him.The jingle bells are ringing, the clock is ticking, and if Holly doesn't watch out, she'll end up on Santa's naughty list.

Christmas Romance

Here are a few heartwarming romance stories for your Christmas enjoyment!

In Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne, Andrea Montgomery and her children have spent the past two years grieving for their lost husband and father, so when the opportunity arises for them to spend Christmas in Haven Point, Andie is determined they are going to enjoy themselves. Andie's friend, Wyn, asks her to look after her brother, Marhall Bailey, who is convalescing after a hit and run accident. Marshall hates feeling so helpless and he resents the protective impulses Andie brings out in him. When a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, Marshall begins to soften and look at Andie in a different light. Her kind nature is soothing and the excitement her kids have for Christmas makes him forget why he never wanted a family. Will Marshall and Andie be able to admit what it is they really want for Christmas?

The Beloved Christmas Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter with Jean Brunstetter & Richelle Brunstetter contains three stories all centered around a beloved family quilt. In "Luellas Promise," Luella Ebersol is a caregiver for a dying woman, Dena Lapp, and her young son. When Dena gives Luella her favorite quilt, she makes Luella promise to pass it down to her own daughter. Dena isn't sure she will ever marry. She can't seem to find a man with faith and maturity like Dena's husband Atlee Zook. "Karen's Gift" sees Karen Allgyer and her husband moving to a slow-paced village to raise their children. With three girls and one on the way, Karen is longing for the closeness of her family to help her through the challenges of motherhood. When life's challenges get bigger she will have to either rise above them or cave to her fears. Finally, in "Roseanna's Groom," the unexpected happens on Roseanna Allgyer's wedding day and she winds up blaming herself, though she doesn't understand why. When an old friend returns to town, she battles the butterflies her makes her feel because she fears being hurt once again.

Holly and Ivy by Fern Michaels is a story about the persistence of memory, especially during the holidays. Airline heiress Ivy Macintosh is not looking forward to another festive season alone. For eight long years she has wallowed in the grief caused by the death of her husband and children in a plane crash. Eleven-year-old Holly Greenwood knocks on Ivy's door after becoming lost during a forbidden trip to her singing teacher. Holly's voice is extraordinary and she wants nothing more than to perform in the upcoming Christmas musical, but her father, Daniel, doesn't allow musci in their home, nor does he talk about Holly's mother. Ivy and Daniel will discover that their past tragedies link them together. As Christmas nears, Ivy begins to see a warmth beneath Daniel's gruff exterior and Holly draws Ivy back into the world and toward a new family life that she desperately needs.

Noelle is the fourth novel in the McCray series by Greg Kincaid. Matriarch Mary Ann McCray is determined to shake up this Christmas by becoming Crossing Trail, Kansas's first ever Mrs. Santa Claus. She has decided to put her own twist on tradition and it's no telling what will fall out of her red velvet sleeves. The McCray's close friends, the Robinsons, aren't faring so well this year. They have decided to divorce and all the hoopla is turning their young children's lives upside down. The McCray's son, Todd, has moved back to town to be with his girlfriend and start a new job at the animal shelter. Tagging along is his obstinate dog, Elle, who has a hard time staying out of trouble. The refrain, "No, Elle! No, Elle!" is often heard throughout town. Todd is feeling particularly self-conscious this Christmas and is worried he is somehow disappointing his parents, but he also feels he must live his life and make his decisions on his own terms. Both families are in desperate need of a Christmas Angel, but is this goofy, hard-headed dog the answer?

Other Romantic Christmas Fiction: